Ramming mechanism for a gun



p 3, 1963 c. J. GROSS 3,102,452

' RAMMING MECHANISM FOR A GUN Filed April 4, 1952 8 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Charles J Grass P 1963 c. J. GROSS 3,102,452

RAMMING MECHANISM FOR A. GUN Filed April 4, 1952 a Sheets-Sheet 2 1120612101" Charles J. Gross By hzsAzzorney Sept. 3, 1963 c. J. GROSS RAWING MECHANISM FOR A GUN 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor Charles J Grass Byu's A2 a nay Filed April 4, 1952 Sept. 3, 1963 c, J, GROSS 3,102,452

RAMMING MECHANISM FOR A GUN Filed April 4, 1952 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor" G/zarles J. Gross B I A Sept. 3, 1963 c. .1. GROSS RAMMING MECHANISM FOR A GUN 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 4, 1952 p 3, 1963 c'QJ. GROSS 3,102,452

RAMMING MECHANISM FCR A GUN Filed April 4, 1952 8 SheetsSheet 6 Sept. 3, 1963 c. J. GROSS RAMMING MECHANISM FOR A GUN 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed April 4, 1952 fnvenfor Char'Zes J. Gross w wx p 3, 1963 c. J. GROSS 3,102,452

RAMMING MECHANISM FOR A GUN Filed April 4, 1952 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Inventar z Charles J Gross United States Patent 3,102,452 G MECHANISM FOR A GUN Charles J. Gross, Melrose, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Apr. 4, 1952, Ser. No. 280,4% 16 Claims. (Cl. 89-47) This invention relates to ramming mechanism for a gun, and is illustrated herein as embodied in ramming mechanism adapted to receive shell from the magazine and hoist structure disclosed in an application of C. W. Greene, SerialNo. 280,524, filed on April 4, 1952, and to ram the shells into a dual gun of the type disclosed in an application of A. D. Willhauck Serial No. 280,468, now Patent No. 2,779,242, filed on April 4, 1952.

The above-mentioned units were designed for use aboard a ship under conditions requiring the use of a minimum amount of space, that these units move together in train, and also that they be readily demountable, as an assembly, from the ship for purposes of repair or replacement. These conditions favor an arrangement in which the ammunition for each gun of the dual mount is hoisted from the magazine to approximately the level of the gun along a path adjacent to the vertical axis of the mount, and is then carried rearwardly of the gun to a position adjacentto its breech and at one side thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved ramming mechanism, adapted to receive a shell at one side of the gun from which it is to be fired, and to ram the shell into the gun with a continuous ramming movement during which the shell is first brought into alinement with the axis of the gun, and then is driven axially of the gun into its chamber. To this end, and in accordance with one feature of the invention, the illustrated ramming mechanism comprises ramming means mounted for movement laterally of the gun from a shell receiving position at one side of its axis into a ramming position directly behind the gun chamber, the ramming means also being movable longitudinally of the gun, continuously with its lateral movement, to ram the shell into the gun chamber. The above described ramming movement is obtained in the illustrated construction, by mounting the ramming means, in accordance with a further feature of the invention, to swing first laterally of the gun, and finally longitudinally thereof whereby an initial ramming movement along the axis of the gun is imparted to the shell. A final ramming movement is imparted to the shell by a further translatory ramming movement of the ramming means which occurs as a continuation of its swinging ramming movement. As soon as the shell is projected out of the ramming means, the above-mentioned translatory and swinging ramming movements of the ramming means are reversed causing it to be returned to its shell receiving position.

iInvention is also to be recognized in various features of driving mechanism, energized by recoil movement of the gun during its previous firing cycle, for imparting the above described synchronized movements to the ramming means during each firing cycle.

The invention further provides, in the ramming mechanism, novel means for positioning and guiding the shell, this means including holders constructed and arranged to engage the smaller forward portion of the shell and to be separated by the shell during its ramming movement, first to accommodate the larger portions of the shell, and finally to avoid any interference with the flanged rear end of the shell as it passes between the members.

The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combination of parts, will now be described in detail with referice once to the accompanying drawings, and will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the right-hand unit of a dual gun having a ramming mechanism embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view, partly in section, of

the ramming mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a plan view, partially broken away and in section, of a portion of the driving mechanism for the ramming mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation of a part of the ramming mechanism, the section being .taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are sectional elevations of parts of the driving mechanism, the sections being taken along the lines V- V, VIVI and VIIVII, respectively, in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged elevation of a part of the ramming mechanism as viewed forwardly thereof;

FIG. 9 is a sectional plan view showing the relation of the rammingmechanism, when in its ramming position, with respect to the gun, the section being taken at the axis of the gun;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the ramming mechanism in its ramming position; and

FIG. 11 is an elevation of a portion of the ramming mechanism as viewed toward the rear thereof.

Shells are directed from the hoist of the above-mentioned Greene structure in the illustrated ramming mechanism through a housing 10 (FIG. 1) at the discharge end of which a transfer tray 12 is mounted to swing laterally, and to deposit the shell within a swinging rammer frame 14, this action of the shell being carried out under its own momentum. The rammer frame is mounted to swing from its shell-receiving position (FIGS. 1 and 2) through about 90 into its ramming position (FIGS. 9 and 10) upon a pair of upper arms 16, 18 and a second pair of lower arms 20, 22. (FIGS. 4 and 9), these arms being so arranged that the frame swings parallel to itself. As the frame approaches its ramming position, a double ramming chain 24 is operated longitudinally of the gun, to-

' ward its chamber, to impart a ramming movement to the shell in continuation of the initial ramming movement which is imparted to it by the rammer frame in swinging into its ramming position. Upon the completion of thisramming movement of the chain, it is .returned to its original position with respect to the rammer frame and, simultaneously with this retrograde movement of the chain, the rammer frame is swung rearwardly, and toward the transfer .tray 12, back to its shell-receiving position.

The ramming movement imparted to the shell by the rammer frame and chain causes it to be catapulted into the chamber 26 (FIG. 9) of the gun. Just before the shell is completely chambered, its flange operates the extractors 28 to release the breeohblock 30, whereupon the breechblock moves to its closed position, and the shell is automatically fired, as is fully described in the abovementioned Willhauck application.

When the gun is fired, its barrel and a collar 32 (FIG. 1) associated with the barrel immediately recoil, and this collar, which encircles a spring-loaded plunger 34 and abuts a head 36 on its rear end, moves the plunger into its energized position, Where it is held by a latch 38 until the next shell is to be fired. Although the plunger 34 is thus held in its retracted position at the end of its recoil movement, the collar 32 immediately returns to its original position as the gun barrel moves iii counter-recoil back to its battery position.

Upon the return of the rammer frame to its shell-receiving position it closes a switch 39 which causes the abovementioned Greene hoist to be automatically operated to deliver another shell into the rammer frame, this action taking place just before the counter-recoil movement of the gun is completed. The firing of the gun is effected by releasing the latch 38 from the head 36-, as a result of which the plunger 34, through driving mechanism to be described below, causes the ramming mechanism to move through the cycle of operations described above, whereby a shell is projected into the gun and automatically fired.

Having outlined the operation of the illustrated ramming mechanism, and its relation to the other units of the gun it will now be described in detail.

The rammer frame comprises a pair of U-shaped yokes 40, 42 (FIG. 4) each of which is provided with upper and lower arms 44, 46, the upper arms being connected by a beam 48, and the lower arms by another similar beam 50. The swinging arms 16, 20 have clamped between their outer ends a rod 52 upon which a hollow shaft 54 carrying a pair of sprockets 56 is arranged to rotate freely. The shaft 54 also provides a bearing upon which the yoke 40 freely turns. The yoke 42 is similarly mounted to turn upon another sprocket shaft 58 which is arranged to rotate freely upon a'rod (not shown) connectingthe outer ends of the arms 18, 22. The double ramming chain 24 connects the sprocket shaftsand car'- ries a series of abutments 62 which are hollowed in conformity to the cross-sectional shape of the shell case. The chain also has two pairs of fingers 64 which are so arranged as to engage the opposite sides of the flange of a shell as it is moved laterally of itself into engagement.

with the abutments, and to propel the shell forwardly during the ramming movement of the chain.

The shell, as it is delivered into the rammer frame from the transfer tray, passes between a pair of guides 66, one

being hinged upon and extending between the upper arms 44, 44, and the other being similarly mounted on the lower arms 46, 46. After being moved away from each other by the shellfas it passes between them, the guides are yieldingly closed by springs 67 (FIG. 8) so that their inner edges engage the flange of the shell and hold it in operative relation to the fingers :64. Similarly, the rear body portion of the shell is held against theabutments 62 Cooperating with the ramming chain to support the forward portion of the shell are a pair of holders 68, 68 (FIGS. 4, and 11) having converging surfaces against which the shell rests. Each holder is provided with a yielding pawl 70, the pawls being separated by the movement of the shell between them, and then closed in engagement with the sides of the shell opposite to the holders by springs 72, 72 compressed between the pawls and the holders. Each of the holders is pivoted on the outer ends of a pair of arms 74, 74, a pair of these arms being fixed to and extending forwardly from each of the forward arms 44, 46. The rear surfaces. of the holders 68 are relieved (at 76 (FIG. 10), and the pivotal axis of the holders is in such a relation to their shell engaging surfaces that if the holders are swung forwardly from their operative positions they are separated enough to permit the largest part of the shell case to pass freely between them. The holders are mounted for equal and opposite rotative movement between their operative and inoperative positions under the control of connections comprising a pair of links 78 (FIGS. 4 and 10) which are connected at their forward ends to the holders and at their rear ends toarms 80, 80. These arms are fixed to shafts '82, '82 which are rotatably mounted on the yoke 40 and the beams 48, 50, and are connected by gearing comprising meshing gears, '84, 84 mounted upon the yoke 40, and gear segments 86, =86 which mesh with the gears 84 and are fixed to shafts 82. A short am 88 is fixed to each of the shafts 82 in such a position as to be engaged by the flange of the shell, at its highermost and lowerference with its flanged end. Moreover, as the shell enforth between its shell receiving and ramming positions I gears 116, the latter being mounted upon studs 118 fixed gaging surfaces of the holders are eccentric with respect to their axis of rotation, the tapering shell case will cause the holders to be forced apart during the first part of the ramming movement. During this period the holders are yieldingly held against the shell by a spring 89 stretched between a pin on the arm 46 and the lower arm 80. However, the shell is traveling so rapidly when its flange strikes the arms 88, 88 and separates the holders 68, 68 that the flanged end of the shell passes freely between the holders before they are returned to their operative positions by the spring 89.

The arms 16, 20 (FIG. 4) are mounted to swing about a common vertical axis in *antifriction bearings carried by base plates 90, 92, respectively, fixed to thegun slide, the arm 16 having a hollow shank 94 which projects upwardly through the plate and has a gear segment 96 fixed thereto. Similarly, the arm 18 has a shank 98 on the upper end of which is fixed a gear segment 100 like the gear segment 96. These gear segments mesh with a rack 10?. which is mounted to slide in a housing 108 which is fixed to the upper base plate 90. .It will now be evident that the rammer frame 14 will be bodily swung back and by a reciprocating movement of the rack 102. The final portion of the ramming movement of the rammer frame is snubbed by a buffer having a plunger 104 (FIG. 2) which is'engaged, near the end of the ramming movement, 7

by an arm 105 formed integral with the arm 16.

The housing 103 also contains another reciprooating end of a shaft mounted to rotate freely within the 1 hollow shank 9'4. A gear 112 fixed to the lower end of,

the shaft .110, and a gear 114 fixed to the upper end of thesprocket shaft 54 are connected by meshing idler to the arm 16.

The racks 102, 1% are operated so as to provide the V land the rammer frame 14, respectively. A followerroll most points, toward the end of the ramming movement of g 131) received in the track 126 is mounted upon a lever 132 which is pivoted at 133 on the housing 124, and is connected by a link 134 to a rod 136 (FIG. I) mounted to slide in the housing. This rod and the rack 106 are connected by an adjustable link comprising rods 137, 138 fixed to a block 146. Similar mechanism connecting the cam with the each 162 comprises a cam roll 144 (FIG. 5) received in the track 128 and mounted upon a lever 146 which is pivoted at 148 on the housing 124, and is connected by a link 150 to a shaft 152 (FIG; 1) adapted to reciprocate in the housing. This shaft is connected by an adjustable link 154 to the hack 162.

The neutral or starting position of the cam 121i (corresponding to the shell receiving position of the rammer frame) is determined by an antireversing pawl 156 (FIGS. 3 and 6) which is pivoted at 158 upon the housing 124, and is urged by a spring 160 against aratchet 162 which is splined to the shaft 122 and has one shoulder 164 adapted to be engaged by the pawl. When the gun is at rest, the shoulder 164 is yieldingly held against the pawl 156 by a buffer mechanism 166 comprising an an-tidriving pawl 168 arranged to engage a shoulder 170 formed on another ratchet 172 which is integral with the above-mentioned ratchet 162., The pawl 168 is yieldingly held against the ratchet 172 by connections comprising a link 174, which pivotally connects the pawl and a plunger 176 which is urged inwardly of the housing 124 by a spring 178. This plunger is connected to the above-mentioned latch 38 by a rod 186, so that whenever the spring loaded plunger 34 is released by the latch, the ratchet 172 is simultaneously released by the pawl 168. The p-awl 168 is pivoted at 182 on a collar 184 within which the shaft 122 ireely turns. This collar is normally urged in a counter clockwise direction (FIG. 6) by a link 186 which connects the collar with a plunger 188 having a piston 11% formed on its outer end. This piston is arranged to slide 'freely within'a cylinder v192, the outer end of which is closed by a cover 194 having an elongated fluid reservoir 196 formed therein. A spring 198, which is seated in a recess in the piston 190i and engages the cover 194, yieldingly urges the piston away from the cover and tends to impart a counterclockwise rotation to the collar 184 and pawl 168. In this way, the butter mechanism 166 coop crates with the antireversing pawl 156 and ratchet 162 to position the cam 126 in its neutral or starting position.

As stated above, when the gun recoils the collar 32 engages the head 36 on the plunger 34 and causes the plunger, which is mounted to slide axially thereof in the housing 124, to be moved rearwardly of the gun against the resistance of a spring 20!! (FIGS. 1, 2, and 3), which is seated at one end within a recess in the plunger and at the other end within an abutment 202 integral with the housing 163. During this movement of the plunger it has no effect upon the drive shaft 122 because of a one-way driving mechanism between these parts. However, this driving mechanism causes the drive shaft to be operated through one revolution when the plunger 34-, upon being released by the latch 38, moves forwardly of the gun. This mechanism comprises a rack 2% (FIGS. 3 and 7) formed on the plunger and meshing with a gear 266 arranged to rotate freely upon the shaft 122. Upon a flange 2.68 integral with the gear 206 a pawl 210 is pivoted, and this pawl is yieldingly held by a spring 212 against a ratchet 214 "which is integral with the ratchets 162 and 172, the ratchet 214 having a single shoulder 216 adapted tobe engaged by the pawl 210. It will now be evident that when the gun recoils, and the plunger 34 is moved rearwardly to its energized position, the pawl 210 will be idly rotated about the ratchet 214, in a counterclockwise direction without driving it. However, when the plunger 34 moves forwardly of the gun, the pawl 210 is rotated in .a clockwise direction and after engaging the shoulder 216, causes the shaft 122 and cam 120 to be driven through one revolution.

When it is desired to fire the gun, the latch 38 is swung away from the head 36 manually, or preferably, by closing a firing key and circuit (not shown) which are electrically connected to a solenoid 218 (FIGS. 1 :and 2), the plunger or which is connected at 220 to both the latch and the rod 180. As the antidriving pawl 168 is disengaged from the ratchet 172 simultaneously with the release of the plunger 34 by the latch 38, the shaft .122 is free to be rotated whenever the plunger 34 is released.

Assuming that the gun is operated under single fire conditions, the anti-driving pawl 163, immediately after it has been withdrawn from the shoulder 170, is held against the periphery of the ratchet 172 by the spring 178. Accordingly, at the end of one revolution of the shaft 122 the shoulder 170 reengages the pawl 168, and the buffer mechanism 166, after permitting a small angle of rotation of the shoulder 164 on the ratchet 162 beyond the antireversing pawl 156, imparts a retrograde movement to the shaft 122 until the shoulder 164 is returned against the antireversing pawl 156. Thus, the earn 120 is returned to and held in its neutral or starting position at the end of each cycle of its operation.

Movement of the ratchet 172 in excess of one revolution is imparted, through the pawl 168, collar 184-, and link 186, to the plunger 18% which now moved toward the outer end of the cylinder 192 against a cushion of fluid in the cylinder, in the reservoir 196, and ducts 222 which connect them. A tapering groove 224 in the side of the piston 199 permits a restricted flow of fluid, of gradually diminishing volume, from the outer end of the cylinder into its inner end or into the reservoir. It will be remembered that while this snubbing action of the buffer mechanism is taking place, a shell will have been rammed into the gun and fired. With the rec-oiling movement of the gun, the plunger 34 is moved to its energized position and, accordingly, exerts no driving force upon the shaft 122. Hence, after the piston 190 has completed its snubbing movement, the spring 198 returns it to its original position, as determined by the engagement of the antireversing pawl 156 with the shoulder 164. This return motion of the piston takes place rapidly owing to the provision of a check valve 226 and duct 228 which permit an appreciable volume of fluid to flow through the piston toward its outer end.

The operation of the ramming mechanism throughout one cycle of operation will now be briefly summarized. It is to be understood that atthe end of the previous cycle, the plunger 34 will have been moved to its energized position where it is held by the latch 38. Also, as the rammer frame was moved into its. shell receiving position at the end of the previous cycle, the switch 39 was closed causing the above-mentioned. Greene hoist to deliver the shell, next to be fired, to the ramming mechanism. Upon leaving the transfer tray 12, the shell passes between the guides 66 into engagement with the abutments 62, the flange of the shell being received between the fingers 64. The forward portion of the shell is centered in the rammer frame by its engagement with the holders 68. Moreover, as soon as the shell reaches the above described position it is held there, at its forward end by the pawls 70 and at its rear end by the guides 66, these pawls. and guides being arranged to close automatically against the side of the shell opposite to that which is engaged by the holders 68- and the abutments 62.

The ramming mechanism, nowloaded, will remain in its shell receiving position until the latch 38 is released from the head 36, either manually or by closing the firing circuit which causes the solenoid 218 to be actuated. It is also to be understood that the abovementioned Willhauck gun is in battery with its breech open.

When the plunger 34 is released by the latch 38, the antidriving pawl 168 also having been moved away from the shoulder 170, the plunger, acting through the gear 206, pawl 210, ratchet 214- and shaft- 122, causes the cam to be rotated through one complete revolution, with a slight overtravel. This overtravel is limited by the bufiing mechanism 166, which finally causes the cam to be returned to its starting position as determined by the engagement of the pawl 156 with the shoulder 164 on the ratchet 162.

During each rotation of the cam 120, the rammer frame 14- and the ramming chain 24 are operated with synchronized movements so as to carry the shell from theshell receiving position into its ramming position, and thence into the gun chamber with a continuous movement. Although the rammer frame first swings laterally of the gun upon the links 16, 18, 24], 22, its final swinging movement, as it reaches the ramming position, is directed into the gun axially thereof.

While the rammer frame is decelerated as it approaches the ramming position, and for a succeeding period when the rammer frame is stationary, the driving mechanism for the ramming chain is operated to advance thechain relatively to the rammer frame, so that the ramming velocity of the shell will be gradually increased up to the time when it leaves the ramming chain, and that the ramming movement imparted to the States is:

. shell by the chain is a continuation of that imparted by the rammer frame. After the shell leaves the ramming rammer frame is returned to its shell receiving position.

While the rammer frame is returning to its shell re ceiving position the closing movement of the breechblock takes place, at the end of which the newly rammed shell is fired automatically. Thereupon, and during the recoil movement of the gun, the spring loaded plunger 34 is returned to its energized position, and is held there by the latch 38.

Upon the return of the rammer frame to the shell receiving position the switch 39 is again closed, thus actuating the'hoist to, deliver the'succeeding round to be fired into the rammer frame.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United 1; In a ramming mechanism fora gun, ramming means for holding a shell, means for swinging said ramming means laterally and forwardly of the gun in succession from a loading position at one side iof the gun to bring the shell into axial alinement with the gun chamber with an initial ramming velocity and then back to its loading position, and means for imparting a translatory ramming movement to said ramming means in continuation and in the final direction of its said initial ramming movement, whereby the shell is projected out of said ramming means before its swinging movement toward its loading position begins.

2. In a ramming mechanism for a gun, ramming means mounted for combined swinging and translatory movement toward and away from the gun chamber, means for swinging said ramming means from a loading position at one side of the gun forwardly thereof into a ramming position in alinement with the chamber and then back to its loading position, and means for imparting forward translatory ramming movement to said ramming means to project a shell into the chamber continuously with the forward swinging movement of said ramming means into its ramming position.

' 3. In a ramming mechanism, a rammer frame, ramming means mounted upon said frame for ramming movementlongitudinally of thegun, means carried by said frame and cooperating with said ramming means to support a shell, said frame being mounted to move laterally and forwardly of the gun from a shell receiving position at one sidenof the gun to bring the shell into axial alinement with the chamber of the :gun with an initial ramming velocity directed axially of the gun, and means for imparting a final ramming movement to said ramming means relatively to said'frame continuously with'said initial ramming velocity.

4. In a ramming mechanism for :a gun, a rammer frame, ramming means mounted upon said frame, means carried by said frame cooperating with said ramming means to hold a shell, means for swinging said frame successively from a shell receiving position to a ramming position with an initial ramming velocity in alinement with the axis of the gun and then back to its original position,and means for driving said ramming means to project the shell continuously with its initial ramming velocity into'the chamber.

5. In a ramming mechanism for a gun, a rammer frame mounted for movement between a shell receiving position at one side of the gun and a ramming position ifiorwardly of said shell receiving position directly behind the gun chamber, means for moving said frame alternately into its ramming position with an initial ramming movement and then returning said frame to its shell receiving position, ramming means carried by said frame, means for driving said ramming means relatively to said frame to impart a ramming movement to said ramming means in continuation of the initial ramming movement imparted 8 to said frame, said ramming means being returned to its original position with respect to said frame by said driving means before said frame is returned to its shell receiving position.

6. In a ramming mechanism for a gun, ramming means,

driving mechanism comprising a spring loaded member which is energized by recoil movement of the gun, a latch for holding said member in its energized position, an operating shaft which is rotated by said member through one revolution during each cycle of operation of said mechanism, opposed pawls cooperating with said shaft to hold it in its starting position, and means for simultaneously releasing said latch and one of said pawls to initiate a cycle of operation of said driving mechanism.

7. In aramming mechanism for a gun, ramming means, driving mechanism for operating said ramming means to project a shell into the gun chamber from a shell receiving position, said driving mechanism comprising a drive shaft, an anti-reversing pawl and an antidriving pawl cooperating with said shaft to hold it in its starting position, a spring loaded member for operating said shaft, a latch for normally preventing movement of said spring loadedmember, and means for simultaneously releasing said ation of said driving mechanism. 1

8. In a ramming mechanism for a gun, ramming means, driving mechanism for moving said ramming means from a shell-receiving position successively toward the gun to project a shell into the chamber and then back to its shell receiving position, said driving mechanism comprising a drive shaft rotatable through one revolution per cycle of operation of said ramming means, an 'antireversing pawl for preventing retrograde movement of said drive shaft, an antidriving pawl cooperating with said antireversing pawl to hold said shaft in its starting position, and a buffer associated with said antidriving pawl for snubbing the rotation of said shaft in excess of i one revolution thereof, and yieldingly to return it into its starting position in engagement with said antireversing pawl.

9. In a ramming mechanism for a gun, a'rammer frame, parallel arms on which said frame is mounted to swing about an axis transverse to the axis of the gun laterally and forwardly of the gun from a shell receiving position at one side ofvthe gun to a ramming position behind the gun chamber and back again to the shell receiving position, a rammer chain mounted for movement on said frame toward and away from the gun axially thereof, driving means for moving said chain toward the gun in continuation of the movement of said rammer frame into its ramming position and for returning said chain to its original position with respect to that frame before said frame has returned to its shell receiving position.

10. In a ramming mechanism for a gun, a rammer frame, parallel armsupon which said frame is mounted to swing laterally and forwardly of the gun from a shell receiving position into a ramming position and back again to the shell receiving position, a ramming chain, sprockets carried by said frame for driving said chainaxially of the said frame between its shell receiving and ramming positions, said driving means comprising a cam operable through one revolution to impart one cycle of movement to said rammer frame and means associated with said last-mentioned arm connecting said cam and said sprockets for imparting a ramming movement to said chain in continuation of the movement of said rammer frame into its ramming position.

ll. In a ramming mechanism for a gun, ramming means operable through alternate ramming and retrograde movements, means for supporting a shell in operative relation to said ramming means, said means com prising separable members cooperating to center the for ward and of the shell with respect to said ramming means,

and connections between said members operated by the engagement of the shell therewith during its ramming movement for moving said members simultaneously out of the path of the shell flange.

12. In a ramming mechanism for a gun, ramming means having supports engaged by one side of a shell, means for supporting the shell in operative relation to said ramming means, said supporting means comprising opposed hinged members having converging shouldersfor receiving the shell therebetween and to center it with respect to said supports, and means operated during the ramming movement of the shell for swinging said hinged members out of the path of the shell.

13. In a ramming mechanism for a gun, ramming mechanism comprising abutments engaged by one side of a shell, means for supporting a shell in operative relation to said ramming mechanism, said supporting means comprising opposed members having converging shoulders for receiving a shell inserted laterally therebetween and to center it with respect to said abutments, and means operated by the engagement of the shell therewith for moving said members during the ramming movement of the shell out of the path thereof.

14. In a ramming -meohanism for a gun, ramming mechanism comprising abutments for supporting a shell at one side thereof, and means for holding a shell in op erative relation to said ramming mechanism, said means comprising opposed members having converging shoulders for receiving a shell inserted laterally therebetween and to center it with respect to said abutments, each of said members having a pawl which is deflected by the shell in its movement into engagement with said abutments and mounted to swing thereafter into engagement with the side of the shell opposite to that engaged by said abutments.

15. In a ramming mechanism for a gun, ramming means, means for supporting a shell in operative relation to said ramming means, said supporting means comprising pivoted holders having converging shoulders for receiving the forward portion of a shell inserted laterally therebetween, said supporting means also comprising pivoted guides engaging the flanged end of the shell, said holders and guides cooperating to position the shell in operative relation to said ramming means, and connections between said holders for moving them out of the path of the shell. 1

16. In a ramming mechanism for a gun, a rammer frame upon which a ramming chain is mounted for alternate ramming and retrograde movements, said chain carrying supports engaged by the side of a shell and shoulders cooperating to grip the flange of the shell, means cooperating with said supports to center the shell in said frame, said means comprising opposed members engaged by the forward end of the shell and a guide engaged by the flange of the shell opposite to said supports, and connections between said-members for causing a movement of one to impart an equal and opposite movement to the other, said connections comprising means engaged by the shell flange during its ramming movement to separate said members before the shell flange passes between them.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 797,330 Schneider Aug. 15, 1905 1,302,520 Dawson et al. May 6, 1919 3 1,310,143 Schneider July 15, 1919' 1,656,727 Dawson et a1 Ian. 17, 1928 2,442,401 Dabrasky et a1. June -1, 1948 

1. IN A RAMMING MECHANISM FOR A GUN, RAMMING MEANS FOR HOLDING A SHELL, MEANS FOR SWINGING SAID RAMMING MEANS LATERALLY AND FORWARDLY OF THE GUN IN SUCCESSION FROM A LOADING POSITION AT ONE SIDE OF THE GUN TO BRING THE SHELL INTO AXIAL ALINEMENT WITH THE GUN CHAMBER WITH AN INITIAL RAMMING VELOCITY AND THEN BACK TO ITS LOADING POSITION, AND MEANS FOR IMPARTING A TRANSLATORY RAMMING MOVEMENT TO SAID RAMMING MEANS IN CONTINUATION AND IN THE FINAL DIRECTION OF ITS SAID INITIAL RAMMING MOVEMENT, WHEREBY THE SHELL IS PROJECTED OUT OF SAID RAMMING MEANS BEFORE ITS SWINGING MOVEMENT TOWARD ITS LOADING POSITION BEGINS. 